Fishing forecast for week of July 9 - 15

The greater amberjack is one of the coast's most exciting fish to catch. Powerful and fast, the largest of the jack family of fish puts up one heck of a fight - brutalizing tackle and torturing anglers.

They sure are fun to battle.

And now is the time.

Sometimes called a horse-eyed jack, amberjack are swarming around many offshore navigational and weather structures. They also can be found at offshore wrecks, especially off the North Carolina coast.

The most popular location is known as the South Tower - which is the Navy A tower approximately 50 miles southeast of Virginia Beach's Rudee Inlet. They also can be found sometimes at the Chesapeake Light Tower due east of Rudee.

Amberjack are mostly a catch-and-release attraction, as they are not highly regarded as a food fish.

The most popular method for tackling these brutes is to toss them a live spot. But amberjack also will take other live bait, spoons, jigs, flies - even surface plugs and poppers.

An amberjack strike on a surface bait is something to see.

While amberjack typically range from 30 to 60 pounds, it's not uncommon for an angler to hook up with one much bigger.

The Virginia record weighed 118 pounds and was caught at the CLT in 1986. North Carolina's record of 126 pounds, 7 ounces was caught last year off Swansboro.

The International Game Fish Association lists two fish for its all-tackle world record. Both, at 155-10 and 155-12, were caught off Bermuda.

HAMPTON ROADS

It's getting to be that time of year when the hardest part of fishing is trying to decide what species to target.

Offshore, tuna action continues to be better than in the past few years. And more dolphin and billfish are joining the mix. Offshore anglers can also opt to bounce jigs and bait off the deep bottom around the Norfolk Canyon for tilefish and grouper. Big shark also are available.

Along the coast, cobia are drawing the most attention. They can be found lurking just about anywhere in the Bay, with the area off Hampton, the Inner Middle Grounds and Latimer Shoal as some of the best locations. King mackerel should show soon.

Spanish mackerel are available in good numbers in most tidal rips - especially at Cape Henry.

Spadefish can be found around most coastal and Chesapeake Bay structure and buoys - with the CLT and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel as two of the best producers.

The islands of the CBBT also are holding triggerfish, black drum and red drum.

Sheepshead numbers along the CBBT also are good.

Flounder catches are steady along the CBBT, with bigger fish falling to live spot.

Bluefish are just about everywhere.

Puppy drum numbers have been increasing in Lynnhaven Inlet - a good sign that it will be another outstanding year. Pups also can be found in Rudee. Both inlets are holding flounder and croaker.

EASTERN SHORE

The big news is that tarpon finally have arrived in the backwaters of the Barrier Islands. But good luck getting much information on where and when to catch them, as this easily is the most-guarded secret in Virginia fishing.

The flounder story remains the same - plenty of fish, but few keepers around most seaside inlets. Croaker numbers are on the rise around Oyster.

Spadefish are abundant at most Bay-side navigational structures and at the Cell.

Flounder also are available along the channel edges from the CBBT high-level spans, past Kiptopeke and northwest up to the Cell.

Bayside inlets could be holding a few puppy drum and croaker.

The 26-Mile Hill has produced a few bluefin tuna and some big bluefish. Otherwise, bluewater trollers are heading to the edges of the Norfolk Canyon for yellowfin, dolphin and billfish.

OUTER BANKS

White marlin numbers are on the rise, adding an extra boost to an already good bluewater trolling season. Blue marlin, sailfish, tuna, dolphin, wahoo, king mackerel and shark also are available.

Coastal catches include plenty of Spanish mackerel and bluefish, and increasing numbers of king mackerel. Cobia are still a possibility and nobody should be surprised to encounter tarpon.

In the sounds, bluefish, small flounder, croaker, speckled trout and puppy drum lead the way. Those who know the haunts likely can find a tarpon. But numbers likely aren't high.

PIER AND SURF

Summer's mixed bag of small stuff is available just about everywhere, with catches along the Outer Banks usually better than on Virginia's beaches.

Look for bluefish, Spanish mackerel, croaker, spot, flounder, trout, puppy drum, small black drum, triggerfish, spadefish, sheepshead, sea mullet, pompano and bluefish along Carolina beaches. Anglers working the ends of piers might also find cobia, king mackerel and possibly tarpon.

In Virginia, puppy drum, bluefish, flounder, sheepshead, spadefish and croaker will provide most of the action. Oceanfront piers could provide Spanish and king mackerel.

FRESHWATER

Fish early and late in the day for most species - even at night on bodies of water where it is permitted.

Largemouth bass will come to the shallows to feed during low-light hours.

Bass fishermen working spinnerbaits and plastics in area tidal rivers can also expect high-octane action from bowfin.

Crappie are possible around extremely deep structure and some bridge pilings.

Catfish are in deep holes.

Bottom bounce worms or minnows along the edges and in the bottoms of creek channels for a grab bag of species.

Lee Tolliver, (757) 222-5844, lee.tolliver@pilotonline.com